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Spinal Research and Motorcycle Riders

Riding a motorcycle can be an exiting and exhilarating experience however, unlike cars with their airbags and seat belts, motorcycles and motorcyclists are more vulnerable and unfortunately accidents do occur. Spinal Research is calling on the motorbike community to help them raise the money needed for research into spinal cord repair through their Ride Out campaign [more]

Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding medical research around the world to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck.

Every year more than 800 people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord. Spinal Research raises money to fund research into clinical treatments as well as vital basic science research. Thanks to such pioneering research, paralysis can now be treated and we stand on the brink of applying therapies that will restore movement and feeling and transform the lives of paralysed people.

A common injury that motorcyclists suffer from is caused when a rider is thrown hard onto their shoulder, the force of the fall tears the limb nerve roots from the spinal cord and, with no nerve supply, all feeling and movement is gone.

The result is life long paralysis and numbness in the affected arm, coupled with chronic, untreatable pain. Patients describe this pain as a continuous crushing or burning sensation that is frequently accompanied by shooting pains that are like an electric shock.

Ride Out for Spinal Research is our campaign dedicated to motorcyclists.Find out more here

Motorcycle Ride Outs

Riding a motorcycle is an exhilarating experience and one that cannot be beaten. It is also a very practical and fun alternative to a car, which is why more and more people are taking their motorcycle tests. However, unlike cars with their airbags and seat belts, motorcycles and motorcyclists are more vulnerable and unfortunately accidents do occur.

Although we do not like to think about it, many motorcyclists have had or know of someone who has had an accident on their bike and is now paralysed or was lucky to have a near miss.

We are now calling on the motorbike community to help us raise the money needed for research into spinal cord repair through our Ride Out campaign.

In 1995 I was left paralysed after a racing accident during qualifying for the Ulster Grand Prix. Ironic that after a 14 year career, during which time I was fortunate enough to compete in eight Isle of Man TT’s, two years in the Formula 1 World Championships and numerous other big capacity class races at home and abroad, my racing career should end on a 125cc Honda. Which just goes to show that size really doesn’t matter! Anyone who has ever ridden a bike, whether it is on the road or the track, knows that there is very little to compare to the excitement, freedom and adrenaline from being on two wheels.

Generally speaking I am not one to get involved in fundraising and charity causes, but when I was contacted by Spinal Research six years ago and saw for myself the tireless efforts they are going to, both in the labs and in ‘the field’ I agreed to help however I can. So I now find myself as Ambassador for its Ride Out campaign - which aims to raise funds and awareness from within the motorcycle community.

Any support you can provide will make a real difference to the charity and the motorcycle community as a whole. It is only through your help that we can continue to fund our vital research into spinal cord repair – and get me back on a bike again.

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